System of electric lighting



(No Mode l.)

M. J. COWGILL. SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING. No. 475,538. Patented May 24, 1892.

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MILO J. OOWGILL, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,538, dated May 24, 1892.

Application filed October 22, 1891. Serial No. 409,485. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MILO J. COWGILL, of Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and usef ullmprovements in Methods of andMeans for Electrical Lighting and Distribution; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to a new, novel, and economic method of electric lighting and distribution.

The object of this invention is to provide a multiple system of electric lighting, making possible great economy in equipment and comprising the use of a current of greater Voltage than that rated of the lamps within the circuits, which current is periodically forced through said circuit, as will be described more fully hereinafter, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic View of a dynamo in connection with my system of electric distribution; Fig. 2, an end elevation more clearly showing the arrangement of the brushes, and Fig. 3 a detail of the commutator-sleeve.

The aim of this invention is more particularly to provide a means for the utilization of a direct or an alternating current, so that the impulse may be sent over a multiple system of circuits, the current passing over the systems intermittently and but during a fractional part of the time necessary for each revolution of the dynamo-armature, thus making it possible to use a low-voltage lamp on a high-voltage current. In furthering this aim I employ any high-voltage dynamo, as shown at A in the figures, to the armature-shaft B of which I affix an accumulator-sleeve O, as shown in Fig. 3. The sleeve proper is of any suitable non-conducting material provided with a series of inlaid peripheral segments D and E,of copper or other suitable conducting material,in electrical connection with the armature-coils. The length of these segments, which are in the form of narrow belts partly encompassing the circumference of the cylindrical com mutator-sleeve 0, depends upon the excess of voltage of the current over that of the lamp. As an example, if the current should be four hundred volts, but the lamp only a one-hundred-volt lamp, and, further, if it required the commutator-sleeve one second to make one revolution the segment would be of such a length that there would be an impulse of current of one-quarterof a seconds duration followed by a three-quarters of a seconds period of rest, representing the currents excess of voltage. If, however, a twenty-volt lamp had been brought within this four-hundred-volt circuit, the segment would be of such a length that the excess of current would be represented bya period of nineteen to twenty of rest, the lamp receiving the current but during one-twentieth of the time of revolution of the armature. Of course it is understood that the segments are brought in contact with a brush in electrical connection with one of the feed-wires, as is usual in such devices.

In the drawings, the commutator-slee\-'e O is provided with two segments D and E and the common return-collar 0', all of which are in electrical connection with the armaturecoils. Mounted within the path of the segments D E and the collar 0 are the brushes D D E E and the common return-commutator brush 0'', supported and constructed as usual in devices of this class. Extending from the brush 0" is the common return-wire F, while the wires H II and I I are connected to the segment-brushes D D" and E E", respectively. The brushes D D are fixed in the same vertical plane and both in the path of the segment D, while the brushes E E lie in the same vertical plane and in the path of the segment E. In the device as illustrated one of the segmentsas D, for instance-is idle one-half the time; butin order that the current may be utilized continually I place the segment E in its own plane directly opposite the segment D, so that as one segment leaves one of its two brushes the other just comes in contact with one of the two brushes in its path, as will be understood by referring to Fig. 3.

The device is noticeable because of its extreme simplicity. In its operation I will as sume that the brush D is just forming a contact with the segment D, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to glow the lamps M, the current (in using a four-hundred-volt current and onehundred-volt lamp) being forced through them during one-quarter of the revolution of the commutator. As this segment left its brush the second segment E would come in contact with the brush E" during the second quarter of revolution, so as to glow the system of lamps marked N. The third movement in an arc of ninety degrees would now bring the first segment D beneath the brush D, so as to illuminate the lamps at M, the final quarter-revolution bringing the second segment E beneath its second brush E, so as to illuminate the final system of lamps, as shown at N. This operation would be repeated,each system of lamps receiving an impulse of current, in this instance during onequarter of the time of each revolution. It will be noticed that I employ a return-wire F, common to all the circuits and in connection with the collar C", and that the current is never on two systems at the same instant, but is successively directed over the several systems, as described.

In the device as described I have employed four circuits; but the number of circuits could of course be increased, first, by adding additional segments in separate paths; secondly, by increasing the number of poles, making it multiple polar, and, thirdly, by increasing the number of armature-coils.

If desired, the commutator-sleeve could b separately and independently mounted and operated and brought into electrical connection with a suitable dynamo. The device could also with a slight modification be used as a converter or as an electrical reducingvalve.

The means as described are exceedingly simple, and can be used on an alternating as well as a direct current.

Having thus described my said invention and the best means known to me of operating the same, I desire to secure by United States Letters Patent- 1. In an apparatus for electriclighting, the combination with a high-voltage dynamo, of a commutator-sleeve ol non-conducting material mounted upon the armature-shaft said sleeve being provided with a series of inlaid peripheral segments of copper, a common return-collar, all in electric connection with the armaturecoils, a series of brushes mounted in the path of said segments and return-collar, there being two brushes for each segment, and a multiple system of circuits extending from said brushes and common return-collar, so that as the armature revolves the current passes over the circuits intermittently and but during the fractional part of the time of each revolution of the armature, thus making it possible to use alow-voltagelamp on a highvoltage circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus for electric lighting, the combination, with a high-voltage dynamo, of a commutator-sleeve of non-conducting material forming part of the armature-shaft, two inlaid peripheral segments of asuitable length and a common return-collar, all in electric connection with the armature-coils, said segments being mounted opposite one another but not in the same vertical plane, a series of brushes mounted opposite one another and in the path of said segments and collar, and a multiple system of circuits extending from said brushes adapted to receive a current which is intermittently and successively forced through said circuits, so that the cu 1'- rent is never in two systems at the same instant, but is successively directed over the several circuits, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for electric lighting, providing a multiple system of circuits and embracing the use of a current of greater voltage than that required for the lamp within said systems, the combination, with the dynamos, of an accumulator-sleeve provided with a series of peripheral inlaid segments of copper, said segments being of such length that there would be a period of rest representing the current excess of voltage over that of the lamps, a common return-collar, brushes within the paths of said segments and collar, aeommon return-wire extending from the collarbrush, and a set of circuit-wires, and a system of lamps within said circuits, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILO J. COWGILL.

Witnesses:

G. IV. SUEs, J. HARRIS. 

